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A MONKEY’S TAIL 


The publishers are indebted to Silver, Burdett 
Company for their courteous permission to use 
this volume the following named poems: 

A Friend in Need; The Young Jasons; A Dream; The 
Woodpecker; Topsey-Turvey; Joyful Days; Song to Venus; 
The Elephant; The Hurdy Gurdy Man; On a Snowy Day; 
The Body-Guard; The Squirrel; Winds of Evening; Winter’s 
Music; Sing a Song of Workshops; The Happy Eskimo; The 
Good Fairies; The Little Windows. 




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From a Portrait by F. H. Tompkins 









A MONKEY’S TAIL 

AND 

OTHER POEMS OF CHILDHOOD 


BY 

FREDERIC MANLEY 



BOSTON 

C. C. BIRCHARD & COMPANY 
1915 



Copyright, 1915, by 

C. C. BIRCHARD & COMPANY 

All rights reserved 


Stanbopc jprcsa 

F. H. GILSON COMPANY 
BOSTON, U.S.A. 


JUN 28 1915 

©CI.A4ni541 


To My Children 
WILLIAM AND MARY 



t 


( 

1 '• 

• / 
« 

I 







Those who knew the late Frederic Manley 
will rejoice that his poems, expressing such 
rare and tender sympathy with the thought 
and feeling of Childhood, have been collected 
and are now available. 

A notable characteristic of these poems is 
their Americanism, for in them is the voice and 
imagery of the children of our own country, 
a revelation of deep insight and a keen sensi- 
tiveness to the subtle influence of the young; 
and we venture to say the author may justly 
be named among the most understanding of the 
poets of American Childhood. 

The Publishers 


IX 





CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Airship, The 78 

Ambitions 26 

April 143 

At School the Other Day 12 

Babes and Flowers 15 

Bananoes! 30 

Billy 4 

Bob-Sled, The 142 

Body-Guard, The 107 

Brownie’s Rest 1 

Bumble Bees 66 

Bunnie’s Dancing Party 58 

Chicadee’s Courtship 3 

Children op May 70 

Christmas Bells 127 

Christmas Bells Are Ringing 5 

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo 33 

Come, Little Children 89 

Come, Ye Painted Warriors 22 

Dairy Maids, The 124 

Discipline 138 

Dolphin Lullaby 79 

Dream, A 115 

Elephant, The Ill 

Evensong, An 14 

Evening Song, An 28 

Fact’ry Mites, The 44 

Father Sun, The 65 

Firebells, The 55 


XI 


Contents 


PAGE 

Fireflies 88 

Friend in Need, A 120 

Good Fairies, The 99 

Happy Eskimo, The 100 

Happy Jap, The 92 

Hailstones 123 

Herd Boy’s Song, The 122 

Hey, Boy! 86 

How Would You Like to Drive? 80 

Hum, Hum, Hum 59 

Humming-Bird, The 19 

Hurdy-Gurdy Man, The 110 

I’d Like to be a Diver 40 

I’d Like to be a Serawoolie 61 

In Danger 17 

In Khorasan ’ 6 

In May 24 

It’s Strange - 84 

Johnny Bruin Gave a Party 48 

Joyful Days 113 

Kite, The 146 

Lambkin, The 60 

Leaf, The 133 

Little Girl Went Out One Day, A 34 

Little Mice, The 13 

Little Pilgrims 102 

Little Windows, The 98 

Lucky Mother, A 85 

May 54 

Meadow-Sweet 141 

Me Little Chinee Boy 29 

Molly Moo 139 

Monkey’s Tail, A 74 

Moon, The 140 

xii 


Contents 


PAGE 

Mother Beaver’s Tail, The 77 

Mother Hedgehog 36 

Mother’s Prayer 125 

My Father Keeps a Groc’ry Store 37 

My Girls 136 

My Kite 38 

Oh, Hush! 71 

Ole Clo’ 8 

On a Snowy Day 108 

Orioles’ Nest, The 20 

Owl, The 90 

Ox, The 43 

Peace 91 

Positive Fact, A 72 

Prayer, A 94 

Quiet Hours 2 

Resolve, A 21 

Rude Person, A 42 

Santy, Hear My Prayer 32 

Santy Works the Long Year Thro’ 83 

Scissors to Grine! 41 

Sea Gull 10 

Sheep and Shepherd 126 

Sing a Song of Workshops 101 

Sometimes at Night 11 

Song to Venus 112 

Spring Song, A 132 

Squirrel, The 106 

Summer Showers 128 

Story, A 50 

Thanksgiving Morning 64 

Tiger Met a Porcupine, A 76 

Ting-a-Ling-a-Ling 144 

Topsy-Turvy 114 

xiii 


Contents 


PAGE 

Trout, The 53 

Up in Front of Grannie’s Barn 82 

Voices 46 

Welcome Visitor, A 62 

What For 16 

What Happy Time a Doggie Knows! 50 

When Bobolink Sings 18 

When Mother Kisses Me Good-Night 130 

Who Are They? 96 

Who is That Naughty Boy? 95 

WiEGENLIED 67 

Wind of Evening 105 

Winter’s Music 104 

Wishes 134 

With Starry Banners Streaming 68 

Woodpecker, The 116 

Young Jasons, The 118 

Young Puss Went a- Walking 52 


XIV 


Frederic Manley 


BROWNIE^S REST 


^^HEN a tired little Brownie 
Longs to go to rest, 

Soon he finds a dainty, downy 
Cosy pretty nest: 


In a lily bell he lays him; 

Then the wind of night 
Sings a croony song and sways him 
Till the east grows bright. 


1 


Frederic Manley 


QUIET HOURS 

^HE night comes like a gray-winged hawk ; 

The day like a blue-bird flies away; 

The fire is full of whispery talk 
And golden winks and silver play. 


The kettle sings one husky note; 

The toads in their trees begin to peep; 

My kitty cleans her glossy coat, 

Then blinks and purrs herself to sleep. 

^^Hush, hush,” the croony night-wind cries. 
^^Tock, seven o’clock,” the old clock goes. 
And then it’s time for little eyes 
Of birds and babes and flowers to close. 


2 


Frederic Manley 


CHICADEE’S COURTSHIP 

MT, dear Miss Chicadee, 

I’m very fond of you — 

Won’t you please marry me 
When days are green and blue? 

See! See! my home is made for two. 


Dear little Chicadee, 

Just peep inside my nest : 

There you’ll sleep cosily 
On down from bunnie’s breast, 

Sleep, sleep, in green and fragrant nest. 


Oh, darling Chicadee, 

My life’s been lone and sad — 
Now I’ll live merrily. 

You’ve made my heart so glad — 
Dear, dear, so sunny and so glad. 


3 


Frederic Manley 


BILLY 

^ILLY had a little gun; 

He took it out to shoot, 

But when the bunnies saw him come 
They all began to scoot. 


^^Bah, the cowards!^’ cried Bill, but then 
Would Billy stand or run 
If he was just all legs and saw 
Himself chased with a gun? 


4 


Frederic Manley 


CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING 

I^HILDREN^S hearts are singing 
A joyful song — 

Santy’s sleigh is bringing 
Their toys along. 


Over hill and steeple 

The sleigh-bells ring: 
Happy little people/^ 
They seem to sing: 


‘^Here’s a heap of treasures, 
A world of joys; 
Here^s a load of pleasures 
For girls and boys.’’ 


5 


Frederic Manley 


IN KHORASAN 

^HE little folk of Khorasan, 

Of Khorasan beside the sea, 
The deep salt sea of Caspian, 

Are ever weaving busily — 

Girl and boy and maid and man. 
Beside the salt sea Caspian, 

In Khorasan. 

The sunlight slept in Khorasan, 

In Khorasan beside the sea, 

Before the new-born sun began 
His journey through immensity — 
Slept and kissed the first of man 
Beside the deep blue Caspian, 

In Khorasan. 


6 


Frederic Manley 


The' little folk of Khorasan 
That weave to-day beside the sea 
The colors of the Caspian, 

Its cloud and sun wrought harmony, 
Weave the joys the light began 
Within the heart of early man 
In Khorasan. 

Oh, children live in Khorasan, 

The home of sunlight, by the sea 
More laughing blue than Caspian, 
And woven dreams their moments be, 
Dreams their primal sires began. 
When innocence and life were one 
In Khorasan. 


7 


Frederic Manley 


OLE CLO^ 

^^QLE clo^ — ole clo^ — ole clo^ to sell!^^ 

The scary old ragman goes ringing his bell, 
And Tound and around as he hollers his cry 
He looks and he peers with a questioning eye. 

‘^Ole do’ — ole do’ — ole do’ — ole shoe!” 
He’s lanky and dark and all whiskery too : 

In his cinnamon hat of a wonderful size 
He looks like a magical man in disguise. 

'^Ole do’ — ole do’ — ole do’ to sell!” 

^‘Who knows?” says my mother; ^^you never 
can tell; 

Why, he might be ’round hunting a boy that he 
needs 

To help him perform certain magical deeds!” 


8 


Frederic Manley 


‘^Ole do’ — ole do’ — ole do’ — to-day!” 

I used to be late for my supper, but say! 

Since he might be a geni or something like that, 
At dark I run home like a terrified cat. 


9 


Frederic Manley 


SEA GULL 

0H, to be a seagull in the big blue day! 

To tack and sail and wheel in tireless flight; 
To ride the rumbling seas of green, 

To tumble in their spray, 

And then to be a child again at night! 


My, the cosy feelings that a child could know, 
If all day long he played in sky and foam. 

And then at dusk when the wind and sea 
Moan lonesomely and low. 

Fly straight to all the light and love of home. 


10 


Frederic Manley 


SOMETIMES AT NIGHT 

gOMETIMES at night, when I^m in bed, 
There’s lots of pictures in my head; 
And some are sad, and some are bright. 
And some would make a monkey laugh, 
And some are full of life and light. 

Just like a cinematograph. 


There’s mice as large as any dog. 
In pictures made of pearly fog; 
There’s frogs as huge as crocodiles. 
And hogs in shiney hats and shoes. 
And polljrwogs with woozy smiles. 
And crickets big as kangaroos. 


11 


Frederic Manley 


AT SCHOOL THE OTHER DAY 

^T school the other day, a boy 
Spoke out a piece about the bells, 

Bells, Bells, Bells 

Bells of fear and bells of joy. 

Fire-bells, bells that laugh and cry. 

And silver bells of the sleighing team; 
But not one word ’mongst all those bells 
Of a welcome bell that rings and tells. 

Tells, tells, tells 

On Summer nights of a certain team 
And a man who rings the bell and yells, 

Yells, yells, yells 

'Hce-Cream — Ice-Cream — Ice-Cream! ’’ 


12 


Frederic Manley 


THE LITTLE MICE 

^HE little mice stay up all night 

To play and scamper through the house, 
Which sometimes makes me wish I might 
Be changed into a little mouse. 

I’d eat my fill of pie and cake; 

I’d see some mousie’s cosy den, 

And just before my ma’s awake 
I’d change back to a child again. 

I’d tell our pussy who I am. 

And then of course she’d love the mice 
And help us eat the cake and jam. 

For my dear Kitty’s very nice. 

And Oh! some tiny mouse would be 
A loving friend and come by day 
To make a call and play with me 
When everybody was away. 


13 


Frederic Manley 


AN EVENSONG 

H^OTHER^S tender prairie bud, 
Close your starry-bright eyes, 
In the deep and lonesome wood. 
Darkness lies. 

I will be a twilight nook. 

Thou wilt sleep in my breast; 

I will be a quiet brook. 

Breathing rest. 


Sleep, my Brave, the forest sings 
Drowsy songs to the night; 
Sleep, my bud, till morning brings 
Joy and light. 


14 


Frederic Manley 


BABES AND FLOWERS 

^HE sun is abroad in the garden beds, 

The wind and the dew are gently shaking 
The sleeping-caps from the poppies^ heads, 
And the flowers are drowsily waking. 


The flowers look up to the deep blue sky, 
But babe sees a greater deep on waking 
When light of love from a mother^s eye 
On his slumbers are tenderly breaking. 


15 


Frederic Manley 


WHAT FOR 


^HE sun was made for birds and flowers, 
The snow was made for sleds, 

And twilight with its drowsy hours 
Was made for sleepy heads; 

The blessed rain was made for tales 
In cosy little nooks, 

And Winter nights with frosty gales 
Was made for picture books. 


16 


Frederic Manley 


IN DANGER 

gUNNYKIN, bunnykin, 

Where’s your wee sonnykin? 

Safe in his burrow or off in the woods? 

Run quick and fetch him 

Or Brownies will catch him 

And turn him to overcoats, mittens and hoods. 


17 


Frederic Manley 


WHEN BOBOLINK SINGS 

T/HHEN Bobolink sings, 

The trees on the hill 
And the flowTs of the plain 
Wake to the joy he brings, 

Wake with a thrill 
To the riotous rain 
Of his jubilant, jolly refrain — 

To the pearl and golden bell he rings 
As he wings 

Past the echoing trees and the flowTs of the 
plain. 


18 


Frederic Manley 


THE HUMMING-BIRD 

^HE humming-bird that flashes by 
Like jeweled lights of morning's sky 
Is singing as he goes, 

Humm, hmn, hum, hum, — 

How good are all the sweets that he 
In every garden flower that blows. 

And in the petals of the rose! 

Hiunm, hum, hum, hum, — 

What a lucky bird am I! " 


19 


Frederic Manley 


THE ORIOLES’ NEST 

WINGING, swinging, weaving and swinging 
Thro’ the green world of the elm’s leafy crest : 
Singing, singing, working and singing. 

Mother bird weaves all the day at her nest. 

Swinging, swinging, out in the sunshine. 

Father bird’s heart to his little mate sings : 
Swinging, swinging, under the starshine. 

Four wee eggs lie beneath mother’s wings. 

Swinging, swinging, mother is singing, 

Calhng her mate to their leaf-hidden nest; 
Swinging, swinging, peeping and swinging. 
Fuzzy wee babes cuddle close to her breast. 


20 


Frederic Manley 


A RESOLVE 

^HENI am big enough to take 
The raisins from the pantry shelf, 
I’ll buy a lot of things and make 
A busy blacksmith of myself. 

And then I’ll make the horses’ shoes 
Like mine, of leather soft and neat. 
Because I’m sure the ones they use 
Must hurt the horses’ tender feet. 


21 


Frederic Manley 


COME, YE PAINTED WARRIORS 

^OME, ye painted warriors, come 
With blanket, rug and shawl! 
Dance your war-cry, pound the drum 
And sound your fighting call! 

Hi-ya, yi-yi! Hi-ya, hi-yi. 

Dashing down the hall, hi-ya, etc. 


Here comes Big Chief Feather Duster, 
Ho! Ho! How! How! How! 

Let the Sioux and Blackfeet muster. 
We can beat them now. 

With our faces daubed so scary 
Hi-yi, etc. 

We will drive them ^cross the prairie, 
Hi-ya, How! How! How! 


22 


Frederic Manley 


Then we^ll hunt for Johnny Bears 
And capture them with ease, 
Marching straight again upstairs 
To feast in our tepees, 

Hi-hi-hi! with songs and drums 
We’ll dance and feast and play, 
Hi-hi-hi! till mother comes 
And takes her things away. 


23 


Frederic Manley 


IN MAY 

J OY in the wildwood, 

Joy on the sea! 

Music and gladness, 

In every tree; 

South winds and sunshine, 
Swallows at play — 

Oh, the light and joy of life 
When it is May! 

Joy in the night-time 
Under the moon — 

Bull-frogs k’plunking 
On their bassoon; 

Chorus of hylas 
Telling their joys. 

Tree-toads whistling everywhere 
Like happy boys. 


24 


Frederic Manley 


Maytime^s the gay time 
Of all the year; 

Winter is over, 

Playtime is near — 
Summer’s before us, 

Golden and green — 

Don’t you think of all the year 
Maytime’s the Queen? 


25 


Frederic Manley 


AMBITIONS 

QEORGE WASHINGTON’S a patriot, he 
made a holiday, 

And mother says a boy should be like him in 
ev’ry way; 

Then p’raps they’d make him President, so 
folks could shake his hand 

And set him in the White House for to manage 
all the land. 


I hope they won’t select me for the White House 
when I’m grown; 

There’s something else I’d rather do than sit 
upon a throne — 

I’d rather run a train than rule the whole 
geography. 

An engineer’s the only thing I ever want to be. 


26 


Frederic Manley 


But if I should be President and go to Washing- 
ton, 

I know the very first thing I shall order to 
be done — 

I’ll have them build an engine and I’ll run her 
all the year, 

And ring the bell and toot the horn and be an 
engineer! 

He sits up in a cosy cab, he rings a golden bell. 

And ev’ry little while he makes the horn let 
out a yell, — 

He does just what he likes to do with all the 
shining gear. 

And so when I’m a man I’m going to be an 
engineer. 

He sees more sights than anyone; he whizzes 
ev’rywhere. 

And when he finds a pretty place, I guess he 
stops her there: 

He thunders under mountains and he scoots 
along the sea — 

I tell you what — an engineer’s the only thing 
to be! 


27 


Frederic Manley 


AN EVENING SONG 
, dear children, playtime^s over, 



Rest beside me all night long; 
Creep beneath our downy cover, 
While I sing a soothing song — 

Now the last dear sunbeam fairy 
Goes to dance on Chinese walls — 
Here comes darkness black and scary 
Thro^ the lonesome creaky halls. 

Johnny Bear and Father Teddy, 
Mother Bruin, soft and brown. 

Come, your cosy bed is ready — 

Say your prayers then snuggle down. 
Say yours too, my dollies dearie. 
Then we’ll sleep and wake dJgain 
When our golden sunbeam fairy 
Dances thro’ the window pane. 


28 


Frederic Manley 


ME LITTLE CHINEE BOY 

III^E little Chinee boy, my name^s Billy Tong, 
Help father washee sclubee clothes light 
along, 

Sclub, sclubee, sclub till the day all die. 

Then Billy Tong go away and cly. 

Me have AmeFcan fliend, he play with-a me — 

Some boys say, Shame yourself to go with 
Chinee;’’ 

Him say, ^^Boys, don’t you mind Chink’s hide. 

He’s my pal and he’s white inside. ” 

Father sing ‘^No more sclubby, home pretty 
soon” — 

Mother smiles allee samee blight like the 
moon — 

They no see Billy Tong go cly< 

’Cause he must leave little pal bym-by. 


29 


Frederic Manley 


BANANOES! 

^^HEN Winter is gone and all the boys 
Get out their bats and things, 

The air is filled with pleasant noise 
Of songs and busy wings, 

But over all, the pedlar’s voice 
Rings clearest as he goes 
A-calling up and down the streets, 
Ba-nan-Ban-nan-nan-oes ! ” 

Oh, whether the day is dark or bright. 
He’s always seen to smile 
As if his heart was filled with light 
From some gay tropic isle. 

As if the palms and cockatoos 
Were ’round him as he goes 
A-calling up and down the streets, 
Ba-nan-nan-nan-nan-oes! ” 


30 


Frederic Manley 


Oh, wouldn’t you like to be as free, 

And happy all the day. 

And have the children dance to see 
Your pushcart on its way? 

And don’t you wish the world would smile 
Just like him as he goes 
A-calling up and down the streets, 
Ba-nan-nan-nan-nan-oes! ” 


31 


Frederic Manley 


SANTY, HEAR MY PRAYER 

j^ANTY, hear my prayer, dear: 

When you come around, 

Bring my little dolls, dear. 

Each a new gown. 


Pussy is their brother; 

Bring her please a ball — 
Hear a thoughtful mother 
Praying for all. 


32 


Frederic Manley 


COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO ! 

(^OCK-A-DOODLE-DOO ! 

The rooster’s telling you: 

'^Get up,” he says, ^^wee sleepy head,^ 
With eyes as bright as clover dew 
And singing as the birdies do — 

It’s time to leave your cosy bed 
When I begin to sing for you. 
Cock-a-doodle-doo ! 

Cock-a-doodle, Cock-a-doodle-doo ! ” 


33 


Frederic Manley 


A LITTLE GIRL WENT OUT ONE DAY 

^ LITTLE girl went out one day, 

Her dollies toddled after, 

And when they all began to play 
The air was sweet with laughter. 

She led them through a pleasant wood; 

They danced and romped about her. 

But when she went to find them food 
They all walked off without her. 

She sought her children high and low. 

In shady nook and sunny. 

And then she met a wise old crow 
Who said, ^‘They^re with Miss Bunny. 

A kindly cricket hopped before 
To shew her Bunny^s dwelling, 

And when they came beside the door 
She heard a joyful yelling. 


34 


Frederic Manley 


Quite soon she learned the reason why — 
For there was Bunny treating 

Her dollies to a clover pie, 

Which everyone was eating. 

She stared so long in her surprise 
And grew so tired with peeping, 

That by and by she closed her eyes 
And very soon was sleeping. 

Then came a Brownie shaking her, 

Which turned into her brother; 

And then a fairy waking her 
That turned into her mother. 

The Bunny’s nest was just her bed. 

With mother bending over — 

But Oh! her dollies’ mouths were red. 

As if they’d all had clover! 


35 


Frederic Manley 


MOTHER HEDGEHOG 

’^HAT can mother hedgehog do 
; When her babes need punishing? 
She has neither strap nor shoe 
Nor a switch nor anything — 

And it would be very silly 
Using paws on babes so quilly — 
Quills that prick and sting. 


P’raps they’re gentle, kind and good, 
Doing just exactly what 
Little people always should. 

Whether they have quills or not — 
P’raps inside their ugly bristles 
They are sweet like hearts of thistles, 
Every quilly little tot. 




36 


Frederic Manley 


MY FATHER KEEPS A GROCERY STORE 

IVTY father keeps a grocTy store away down 
town: 

I wish he^d stop and buy a bear and be a circus 
clown, 

For then we’d see him ev’ry day and laugh at 
all his fun, 

And make the bear play soldier with a broom- 
stick for a gun. 

He’d never look all tired and sad, but grin and 
dance 

And stand upon his head and make old Bruin 
march and prance : 

He’d tumble in the parlor and fall over chairs 
and screens. 

And every night I’d see him act, and go behind 
the scenes. 


37 


Frederic Manley 


MY KITE 

and higher sails my kite 
Till it’s almost out of sight; 

Thro’ the blue and breezy day 
Like a bird it flies away, 

Bound for pleasant lands that lie 
’Way off in the sunset sky. 

There it sees the whole green world 
With the oceans ’round it curled, 

Polar bears and Esquimaux, 

Lands where dates and monkeys grow. 

Kings and knights in royal halls. 

Coral isles and Cannibals, 

Cross-legged gods that squat and smile 
On the mud flats of the Nile, 

38 


Frederic Manley 


Pirates hiding chests of gold, 
Brigands fierce and smugglers bold, 

Indian boys in bark canoes, 
Dutchmen wearing wooden shoes. 

Coolies, camels, elephants, 

Turkish girls in baggy pants. 

Highland boys in petticoats, 

Breton lads in sardine boats, 

Zulus wearing just their skin. 

With a high hat and a grin, 

Hottentots and Burmese Bohs 
Chinese girls with crumpled toes. 


39 


Frederic Manley 


I^D LIKE TO BE A DIVER 

like to be a diver, 

A diver, a diver! 

I^d like to see the oysters make their beds and 
go to sleep : 

I^d like to be a diver, 

A diver, a diver! 

Among the funny fishes at the bottom of the 
deep. 

I’d love to be a diver, 

A diver, a diver. 

To see the sunken treasures in the pirate ships 
of old; 

And if I was a diver, 

A diver, a diver, 

I’d fill my darling mother’s lap with heaps of 
pearls and gold. 


40 


Frederic Manley 


SCISSORS TO GRINE! 

^^^CISSORS to grine, scissors to grine!’^ 

Winter and siunmer time, rainy or fine, 
’Round goes the man with his bell and his wheel, 
’Round goes the wheel with a snarl or a whine. 
Bizz! with a whine as it sharpens the steel: 

^ ^ Scizz-izz-izz-scizz-izz-izz-scissors to grine ! ’ ’ 


'^Scissors to grine! Scissors and knives!” 

Buzz! like the swarming of bees from their 
} hives — 

Sizz ! like the spray-drops aflame in the sun — 
Bizz! how the sparks fly as if for their lives! 
Buzz! goes the wheel till the scissors are done: 
^^Scizz-izz-izz-scizz-izz-izz-scissors or knives.” 


41 


Frederic Manley 


A RUDE PERSON 

you’ll walk this way,” said the friendly 
duck 

To the dainty hen as he waddled on, 

will show you a place where the grubs, they 
say. 

Are the finest you’ve ever laid beak upon. 

If you’ll walk, — quack, quack, — please walk 
this way. ” 

^^If I walked that way,” said the rude young 
hen 

As she perked her head at the waddling duck, 
would run to the barn and I’d hide in the hay 

From the light of the day, you insulting duck. 

If I walked, — cluck, cluck, — that wad ’ling 
way!” 


42 


Frederic Manley 


THE OX 

^HE ox is very strong and good, 
He likes to work and eat; 

He does not care for fancy food, 
But finds the grass a treat. 


He has two blue and patient eyes. 
And seems to think a lot; 

His tail is trained to shoo the flies 
Away when it is hot. 


He cannot read; he never plays. 
Nor does he care for toys: 

An ox’s calm and patient ways 
Are not the ways of boys. 


43 


Frederic Manley 


THE FACTORY MITES 

MI sis and me, we^re factory mites; 

When other kids are tucked away, 

We’re wide awake, ’cause we work nights. 

And sleep when other children play. 

Sometimes we get dog tired, but gee! 

You dassent nod nor close an eye. 

Or else the big machinery 

Would catch you sure, and then — Good-by!” 

^^But Lor’!” says Sis, ^Hhe sleepy hum 
Of all those whirring, dizzy looms 
Can just ’bout make the sandman come 
With dreams of bees and clover blooms. ” 

And that’s the time we love, for then 
The long way home’s all full of light. 

But Winter-time there’s scary men 
And spooky things, and cold and night. 


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Frederic Manley 


But when our Ma gets well, and Pa 
Is found where he is lost at sea, 
We’ll be like other children are. 

And play all day, my sis and me. 


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Frederic Manley 


VOICES 

■\^HO are the children that frolic and sing 
In the woods, away in the woods? 

Low, low, tenderly low 
The softly-breathed melodies rise and flow 
In haunts of the starry anemones. 

Silvery clear, serenely slow 
Thro^ the peace of the dawns and the stars of 
the Spring, 

Thro’ the golden hush of the noons of Spring, 
In the woods, the rejoicing woods. 

Where do they hide when I follow their song 
Thro’ the woods, away in the woods? 

Soft, soft, softly I go 


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Frederic Manley 


By still, mossy places the veeries know 

And flow’rs like wee nuns in their lily- 
white hoods. 

Grently I go on a tip-a-toe, 

Yet there’s never a child and there’s no sweet 
song 

But the brook’s low song as it flows along 
Thro’ the woods, the rejoicing woods. 


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Frederic Manley 


JOHNNY BRUIN GAVE A PARTY 

JOHNNY BRUIN gave a party, 

All his friends were there — 

Fatty Woodchuck, Spiny Porkie, 

Little Chipmunk, Benny Bunnie, 

Squirrel Friskin, cute and funny — 

Oh ! and lots and lots of other friends of Johnny 
Bear. 

All the guests were feeling hearty. 

Full of woodland fun, 

And they cheered for Johnny, crying: 

Who’s all right?” and then replying 
Johnny Bruin — he’s a winner!” 

Thanks,” said Johnny — “Now for dinner,” 
shouted ev’ry one. 


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Frederic Manley 


^^Such a feast!’’ cried happy Johnny; 

Berries, nuts and bread. 

Fat red ants and fresh wild honey, — 

Eat, my friends!” said little Johnny. 

But alas! instead of cheering, 

Some were frowning, some were sneering. 
Others growled and scolded until Johnny’s ears 
were red. 

Cheat!” they yelled — “Is that your dinner? 
Where’s the things we wish? 

Where’s the mice and seeds and lettuce? 
Where’s the food we thought you’d get us?” 
Then they left, and little Johnny 
Ate up all the ants and honey, 

Wond’ring at his foolish friends for leaving 
such a dish. 


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Frederic Manley 


WHAT HAPPY TIME A DOGGIE KNOWS! 



happy time a doggie knows! 


How free and full of play! 

He gets up when he likes and goes 
To bed the same, and simply grows, 
Instead of putting on, his clothes; 

And ev^ry free and happy day 
That dawns for him is Saturday! 

But one poor dog comes down oiu* way 
Whose life’s a different kind — 

He never knows an hour of play. 

He never has a holiday. 

Because, you see, he has to stay 
Close by his master’s side to mind 
The poor old man, ’cause he is blind. 


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Frederic Manley 


When other dogs ask him to run 
And play with him, he tries 
To show he cannot share their fun 
Because the blind and helpless one 
Has not a friend beneath the sun 
But one brave doggie, true and wise, 
To love him and to be his eyes. 


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Frederic Manley 


YOUNG PUSS WENT A-WALKING 

yOUNG puss went a-walking 
One bright Summer day; 

She met a wee mousie, 

WTho ran right away. 

‘^Please stop, little mousie, 

And frolic with me’’ — 

‘^No, thank you,” said mousie, 
‘^I’m late for my tea.” 


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Frederic Manley 


THE] TROUT 

0VER the pebbles and in the green nooks, 
Thro^ the cool mosses of wind-dimpled brooks, 
Free as the ripples that play in and out, — 
What a fine life is the life of a trout ! 


No one to send him to bed with the sun. 

No one to tell him when playtime is done. 
No one to scold him for staying out late, — 
Oh, but the life of a trout must be great! 

Still, in the Winter how cold it must be: 

He has no ulster nor mittens like me. 

Nor any Thanksgiving turkey in Fall, — 

It isnT so bad to be me after all! 


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Frederic Manley 


MAY 


yiOLETS and columbine, daisies on the way, 
Bluebirds calling, sunlight falling warmer 
evhy day; 

Orchards white with blossoms and the willow 
full of bees. 

Swallows just arriving from their journey 
over-seas. 


Hermits in the twilight pine, veeries in the dawn, 
Robins fluting mellow tunes and dancing on the 
lawn; 

Roses in the cheeks of happy children at their 
play, 

Oh, the joy of living in the pleasant month of 
May! 


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Frederic Manley 


THE FIREBELLS 

^I^HEN the street cars stop, 

And the people shout, 

And the firebells klang and kling: 

Oh, that^s the time I^m up and out 
Like the flash of a swallow^s wing. 

For I canT sit still 
When hoarse and strong 
The whistles shriek and sing; 

When the hose and ladder comes along 

And the horses leap 

And the bells all ring 

With a kling and a klang and a kling. 


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Frederic Manley 


A STORY 

^HERE was a little toad 
And he lived beside the road 
In a log; 

And when the light was gray 
He would hop away to play 
With a frog, — 

With a frog whose dwelling lay 
Fifty hops or more away 
In a bog. 

Hippity, hippity, hop, hop, hop. 

Till the owl came out to hoot and prey, 
Then the toad and the frog with never a 
stop 

Went home with a hippity, hop, hop, hop. 

There was a little bush 
Where the owl sat in the hush 
Of the wood; 

And he said, To-night,’^ said he. 


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will have them both for tea 
As I should, 

For a toad is sweet as mice 
And a froggie^s legs are nice — 

Very good!^’ 

Hippity, hippity, hop, hop, hop. 

But a chipmunk heard the great owhs plan. 
And as straight to the bog of the frog he ran 
With many a skippity, hop, hop, hop. 

There was a hungry owl 
And he wore an awful scowl. 

And he swore; 

For neither toad nor frog 
Could he find around the bog 
Any more: 

They had both gone far away 
To a safer place to play 
Up the shore. 

Hippity, hippity, hop, hop, hop. 

Oh, the owl may hunt but never know 
The snug little cave where the playmates go 
With a hippity, hippity, hop, hop, hop. 


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Frederic Manley 


BUNNIE’S DANCING PARTY 

Y^HEN forest ways lie deep 
In the white peace of the snow; 
When nature seems asleep 
In the full moon^s pearly glow, 
With footfalls light as a bee^s 
On the honey buds of May, 

The bunnies flit among the trees 
And dance the night away. 


Pit-pat-pit, pitter-patter-pit. 
All the dainty dancers go; 
Pit-pat-pit, pitter-patter-pit. 
So they flit across the snow. 
They skip and hop and run. 
Till the first grey light of day, 
Then ev^ry happy little Bun 
Like a moonbeam drifts away. 


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Frederic Manley 


HUM, HUM, HUM 

J£UM, hum, hum, hum, — 

Pretty mother humming-bird — 
Hum, hum, hum, hum — 

All your little ones have heard. 

And they’re crying, “Come, Oh, come!” 
Hum, hum, hum, hum, — 

Darling mother humming-bird — 

Hum, hum, hum! 

“Um, um, um, um,” 

So your happy babies say — 

“Um, um, um, um, — 

We’ll have honey right away! 

Mother dear is bringing some — 

Um, um, um, um, — 

Thank you mother humming-bird — 
Um, um, um!” 


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Frederic Manley 


THE LAMBKIN 

gABY LAMBKIN, go to rest, 

Safe in your cosy fold; 

Run to mother’s wooly breast. 

Run from the dark and cold. 

The thrush is singing his last good-night. 

The cottage window is red with light. 

The owl is awake, for his day’s begun — 
Run, little lambkin, run. 

Baby lamb, the pines have grown 
Black as a twilight crow; 

Stay no longer here alone. 

Go, little lambkin, go! 

The scary shadows are creeping ’round; 

The night wind’s voice has a lonesome sound, 
Your mother is calling her little one — 

Run to her, lambkin, run. 


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Frederic Manley 


I’D LIKE TO BE A SERAWOOLIE 

J’D like to be a Serawoolie baby, 

Or else a little child in Timbuctoo, 

For where can children be more glad than they 
be, 

Or live in little houses of bamboo? 

They ride around on ostriches and donkeys. 
They sometimes have a zebra or giraffe. 

And they can see the wise old wizard monkeys 
Whose capers make the wild hyenas laugh. 

They live on dates and yams as sweet as candy. 
And munch delicious sugar-cane all day; 

The cocoanuts are always hanging handy. 
They’re always eating ’cepting when they play. 
A real menagerie is always straying 
And squdging ’round ’em in the jungle cooze — 
They see the pools where elephants are swaying 
And squirting mud at squawking cockatoos. 


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Frederic Manley 


A WELCOME VISITOR 

"^HEN all the world is sad and old, 

When all the days are short and cold, 
When all the flowers are dead and brown 
And faded like a beggar’s gown — 

Of then’s the time we long the most 
For busy little Jackie Frost, 

Quiet little, welcome little, jolly little Jack 
Frost. 

He makes a slide for every sled; 

He puts the little seeds to bed; 

The naked trees he clothes with gems 
And crowns the grass with diadems; 

And thro’ the world all sad and bare 
He scatters beauty everywhere — 

Busy little, kindly little, jolly little Jack Frost. 


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Frederic Manley 


Jack Frost is kind to everything, 

He makes the scarecrow seem a king, 

And tho’ he nips our nose and ears 
And then makes jewels of our tears, 

Just think how many, many joys 
He brings to little girls and boys, 

Jackie, Jackie, welcome Jackie, jolly Jack Frost. 


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Frederic Manley 


THANKSGIVING MORNING 

JIBING, ting, what a merry song! 

Kling, kling, what a happy day! 
Kling, klong, ling-a-ling-a-long — 
Children singing in the sleigh. 


Sing, sing, rosy little boys. 

Ring, ring, silver little chime, 
Kling, kling, what a pretty noise, 
Girlies laughing all the time. 


Kling, kling, apples in the pie; 

Sing, sing, Turkey^s getting brown; 
That’s the reason why 
Sleighbells jangle up and down. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE FATHER SUN 

^HE Father Sun shines all the day, 
The Lady Moon at night, 

She watches me while I^m at play 
With all her pretty light. 


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Frederic Manley 


BUMBLE BEES 
’ the willow’s downy bloom, 



Thro’ the cherry trees, 

Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom — 
Boom the bumble bees. 

Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom — 

What a busy throng! 

Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom. 

Like a far-heard deep-sea boom. 
Sounds the murmur of their song. 
Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom. 

All the Summer long. 

Children too would sing like these 
Comrades of the flowers — 
Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom. 

If the lily’s heart were ours. 
Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom. 

In the May time’s joyful hours, 
After Winter’s songless gloom. 
Zoom, zoom, zoom, zoom. 

In a golden world of flowers. 


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Frederic Manley 


WIEGENLIED 

J^ITTLE baby, good-night; 

Ev’ry blossom so bright 
Now is going to sleep 
In the moon^s peaceful light. 
Close your own weary eyes 
In the cool fragrant dark, 

Till the flowhs all arise 
With the song of the lark. 

Go to sleep, baby dear. 

For the night now is here 
With her sweet gift of sleep 
For each tired little dear. 

Thou wilt fly on her breast 
To the Kingdom of dreams 
And return to thy nest 
When the bright morning gleams. 


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Frederic Manley 


WITH STARRY BANNERS STREAMING 

■^ITH starry banners streaming, 

3 We march away; 

Our swords and guns are gleaming, 

Our trumpets play — 

Oh, we^re marching on to glory. 
Hoorah! Hoorah! 

We’re marching thro’ the sunny day 
Like heroes in a story. 

Hoorah! Hoorah! 

We’re marching on to glory. 


We’ll march thro’ hay and clover 
To meet our foe. 

And when the battle’s over 
Then back we’ll go. 

Oh, we’ll march with trumpets blaring. 
Hoorah! Hoorah! 


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Frederic Manley 


With children cheering on our way 
And cows and people staring — 
Hoorah! Hoorah! 

Well march thro’ lanes and meadows 
Till evening falls, 

Run home thro’ the shadows 
When mother calls. 


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Frederic Manley 


CHILDREN OF MAY 

J|ANCING, glowing, nodding in the sun, 
Cheering ev^ry way; 

Glancing, glowing, laughing as they run, 
Come the flow’rs of May. 


Golden, crimson, violet and white. 
Everywhere they rise. 

Making hill and meadow land as bright 
As the sunset skies. 


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Frederic Manley 


OH, HUSH! 

QH, hush, hush, hush! 

My baby^s taking a nap; 

You’ll surely waken the child with your tap- 
tap-tap. 

Why don’t you rap at the door of Miss Chicaree, 

For she has no little baby asleep like me? 

I’ll give you nuts 

With worms and many a grub. 

If you’ll fly off with your rubbady-dub-dub-dub, 

I’ll show you birches all dripping with sweetest 
sap, 

If you’ll just fly right away with your tap-tap- 
tap. 


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Frederic Manley 


A POSITIVE FACT 

good children, you will find, 
Treat poor wasps and hornets kind; 

Never break their woodland rest, 
Never take their pretty nest; 

Never step into their home 
When about the fields they roam; 

Never bruise the hornet’s wings. 

Break their rest or steal their stings; 

And if one should take a chair. 

They’ll politely leave him there, 

Never rudely sitting down 
’Til the little fellow’s flown; 


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Frederic Manley 


Buzzing over hill and sward — 
“Kindness is its own reward/^ 

All good children, you will find, 
Treat poor wasps and hornets kind. 


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Frederic Manley 


A MONKEY’S TAIL 

^ MONKEY’S tail’s a handy thing, 

It holds him onto trees 
And makes it easy for to swing 
Most anywhere you please; 

And Oh ! it must be lots of fun 
To hang down at your ease 
And dangle from the branches in a gentle 
jungle breeze. 

Swinging in the jungles 
Where the tigers grow, 

Watching bears and panthers prowling ’round 
below — 

Eating nuts and paw-paws while you play and 
swing. 

Oh ! I think a monkey’s tail’s a very handy thing. 


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Frederic Manley 


They say that once upon a time 
Just when the world was new, 

The little children used to climb 
The same as monkeys do. 

They played at circus ev^ry day 
Among the tallest trees, 

And used their tails for dangling in the gentle 
jungle breeze. 

Swinging in the palm-tree, 

Swinging in the sun — 

Throwing nuts at tigers, having lots of fun; 
Ev’ry tree a playground, ev’ry branch a 
swing — 

DonT you think a monkey’s tail would be a 
handy thing? 


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Frederic Manley 


A TIGER MET A PORCUPINE 

^ TIGER met a porcupine and said, Kerens 
g where I dine! 

For Oh ! my fat and fine young piggie pore for 
you I pine. 

'^You^re welcome,^’ said the porcupine; please 
have some quills with me,’^ 

And flicked his tail and filled the tiger^s mouth 
obligingly. 

This hurt the tiger^s feelings, so he whisked aside 
and whined, 

'^You might have kept these toothpicks until 
after I had dined. 

^^Aha! I’m the pore you pine for!” cried the 
porcupine; 

'^But if to dine on pork you pine the pork will 
not be mine. ” 


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Frederic Manley 


THE MOTHER BEAVER^S TAIL 

^HE mother beaver’s tail is flat, 

It’s also broad and strong — 

Her children by remembering that 
Are kept from doing wrong. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE AIRSHIP 

QVER the sunflower tops and garden rows 
And lawns and hedges winging, 

Light as the fuzzy seeds the west wind blows 
When nights are growing long. 

Soaring toward the clouds our airship goes, 
Then down again we’re swinging. 

Fearless and brave because our Captain knows 
The orchard boughs are strong. 

Sometimes to take a daring passenger 
We rest above the clover. 

Then once again we’re mounting thro’ the air 
Like swallows on the wing. 

Many a game I know and lots of play 
For boys the wide world over; 

Oh, but it’s best to go on a Summer day 
A-sailing in a swing. 


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Frederic Manley 


DOLPHIN LULLABY 

Q’ER the white foam of the wild singing sea, 
All the long day thou hast played merrily; 
Now daylight fades, and the arms of the deep 
Wait, baby Dolphin, to rock thee to sleep. 


White sails that fade in the gold of the west 
Homeward are bearing the sailors to rest. 
And the wild gull flashes over the foam 
To the wee birds that await her at home. 


Nursling of ocean, the deep is thy bed. 

Soft are the waters that pillow thy head. 
Sweet is the voice of the winds on the sea. 
Soothe thee, my babe, to the waves’ lullaby. 


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Frederic Manley 


HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? 

JJOW would you like to drive a great big scary 
motor car, 

And just go whizzing thro’ the town and scoot- 
ing near and far? 

With trees and houses dancing and the roads all 
flowing by, 

And the horn a honk-a-honking like a wild 
goose in the sky! 

Honk! Honk! Honk! and Toot-a-too-a-too ! 

I’d like to drive a big red automobile, wouldn’t 
you? 

My! wouldn’t I like to drive around the world 
and never stop 

Until we came into the land where Santy keeps 
his shop. 


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Frederic Manley 


It might be just at Christmas, and if we^d been 
careful boys, 

He^d send us home a-honking with a motor full 
of toys. 

Honk! Honk! Honk! and Toot-a-too-a-too! 

Oh! I^d love to drive a big red automobile, 
wouldn’t you? 


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Frederic Manley 


UP IN FRONT OF GRANNIE^S BARN 

IJP in front of grannie^s barn 
Near the cherry trees — 

“Zum!^’ boom the bumble bees. 

‘^Zum!’^ ^^Zum!^^ This is all their song, 

‘^Zum!’^ What a busy throng! 

And wouldnT you be busy too as the zumming 
bumble bees, 

If the blooming orchard trees 
Gave you honey all day long? 


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Frederic Manley 


SANTY WORKS THE LONG YEAR 
THRO’ 

j^ANTY works the long year thro’, 
Making toys for me and you — 
Edang-kling, Eding-klang, 
Klang-a-ling-a-kling-khng, 

Night and day his workshops ring. 


Tiny Brownies work for him 
In the Northland cold and dim — 
Klang-kling, Kling-klang, 
Klang-a-ling-a-kling-klong, 

Working to their anvil’s song. 

Then when Christmas Eve is here, 
Brownies bring their Master’s deer — 
Kling-klong, Klong-kling, 
Tong-a-long-a-ling-klong, 

Santy’s silver sleigh bells sing. 


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Frederic Manley 


IT’S STRANGE 

JT’S strange that on a sunny day, 
When I so want to run and play, 
That us’lly on my way to school 
I always fall into a pool. 


And then I run home in a scare. 

But mother she says, Don’t you care — 
Just change your wet things right away. 
And then go out and run and play. ” 


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Frederic Manley 


A LUCKY MOTHER 

]|^OST forest mothers when they roam 
Must leave their fuzzy babes at home, 
And if they had a house they’d surely 
lock it. 

But the mother Kangaroo 
Has no worrying to do, 

For she takes her baby with her in her 
pocket. 


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Frederic Manley 


HEY, BOY! 

Boy! Say, Boy! don’t you hear the day 
Calling you in ev’ry breeze to tumble out 
and play, — 

Calling you to hurry, hurry out beneath the 
blue 

Just to see the joyous friends a-waiting there . 
for you? 


Oh, Boy! Hark, Boy! there’s the sparrow’s 
song! 

He don’t start the precious day complaining 
things are wrong; 

Gold or gray, he sings his love of life in ev’ry 
dawn 

Same as to a bran-new perfect world just 
getting born! 


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Frederic Manley 


Look, Boy! See, Boy! how the breezes pass. 

Dancing with the meadow-flow’rs and laughing 
in the grass! 

Hear the waters singing little silver songs of glee. 

Racing down the pleasant hills to join the 
mother sea. 

Stay, Boy! Wait, Boy! don^t get out of bed 

’Less the night has left a little starlight in your 
head, 

’Less you know you’re fit to face those friends 
beneath the blue. 

Till you’re sure the sparrow’s not a better 
man than you! 


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Frederic Manley 


FIREFLIES 

^HEY must be fairy beacon lights 
That show the way on darkest nights 
To little wandering tribes that pass 
Down in the dim world of the grass. 


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Frederic Manley 


COME, LITTLE CHILDREN 

^OME, little children, it’s time to rise and play 
Out in the winds of the golden summer day. 
All among the daisies and the pleasant hills 
of hay. 


Mousie has long since washed his face in dew. 
Tidied his house, combed his whiskers too; 
Now he’s frisking with his brother, playing 
peek-a-boo! 


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Frederic Manley 


THE OWL 

^WAKE, my dear, the woods are still 
And stars are shining thro^, 

Our breakfast waits on yonder hill — 
^^Too-whit, Too-whit, Too-whoo!’^ 


How sweet it is to wake, my dear. 

In darkness bright and blue 
To find the world all hush’d to hear 
Our sweet Too-whit, Too-whoo!” 


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Frederic Manley 


PEACE 


THE mountains are as windless clouds, 
The^willow’s lightest leaf is still, 

The day is lost in bloomy crowds 
Of shadows on the farthest hill. 


For once the seldom-resting troops 
Of poplars cease their sprightly dance; 
O’er tranquil pools the iris droops 
To meet her own sweet azure glance. 

Was that the touch of questing bees 
Or vagrant wind moved yonder rose? 
Or was nature’s sigh of ease 
Her fragrant breath of sweet repose? 


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Frederic Manley 


THE HAPPY JAP 

^HERE was a little chappy 

Who was always very happy, 

And he lived far away in Japan. 

And this merry little Jappy 

Used to say we’d all be happy 

If we’d only give our best to every man; 

If instead of feehng snappy 
WTien Hard Luck goes rappy-tappy, 

We would imitate the sugar-maple’s plan, 

"Which always answers to the tappy 

Tap of blows in sappy 

Maple sweetness ’til it’s given all it can — 

Which is just what this wee chappy 

Who made everybody happy 

Used to do among the roses of Japan. 


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Frederic Manley 


Now each Julie and each chappy 
Singing here can be like Jappy 
There if they will only think about his plan — 
If theyT keep Life’s sappy 
Joyous feehng fresh and happy 
And be sweetest when they meet a snappy 
man. 


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Frederic Manley 


A PRAYER 

AT starlight time I say a prayer 
For babes out in the dark and cold, 
Ev’ry wee child 
Out in the wild 

Far from his nest and his mother^s care. 


^^0 Lord, send angels from above 
To lead the lamb back to his fold, 
Ev’ry wee child 
Out in the wild 

Back to the joy of his mother’s love.” 


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Frederic Manley 


WHO IS THAT NAUGHTY BOY? 

^/^HO is that naughty boy nam’d Bill? 

. And what does poor Will do 
To keep you calling ^‘Whip-poor-will” 

Till ev’ry bird on ev’ry hill 
Must wish someone would answer you, 
And Whip and Whip and Whip your Will, 
So you’d be still. 

Old Tattle-Bill, 

And change your tiresome subject too? 


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Frederic Manley 


WHO ARE THEY? 

THEY TRIP ACROSS THE HILLS OF JUNE 

^HEY trip across the hills of June, 
In evhy field their armies rise 
To light the earth with golden eyes 
And petals whiter than the moon. 


I PASS EACH JOYFUL SUMMER DAY 

J PASS each joyful Summer day 
Among my friends the Flowers, 
And every night I bear away 
Their gifts for Winter hours. 


WE COME FROM HEAVEN 

w come from heaven all thro’ the night, 
A million billion fairies bright; 

We visit earth till morning when 
We rise unseen to heav’n again. 


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Frederic Manley 


WE BUILD JUST LIKE THE JAPANESE 

WE build just like the Japanese 
A paper house among the trees 
Or in the meadow grass — 
And like the Chinese lads we sing 
One tune upon a single string 
Wherever we may pass — 
^^Zing, zing/^ we sing, 
'^Zung-zing, zung-zing, 
Zinn-ng!’^ 


NATURE^S SINGER — WHO? 

j^INE is the voice of April woods, 

The glad voice of the earth, 

The soul of the verdant solitudes. 

The mountain's laughter, and the mirth 
Of all the clouds that give me birth. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE LITTLE WINDOWS 

J KNOW two tiny windows in a house that^s 
large and strong, 

Thro’ which the wide world far and near is 
seen the whole day long; 

Some fairy artist works in them and paints 
the scenes, I’m sure. 

The mighty sun and little flow’rs around the 
cottage door. 

I know two little shades as soft as petals of 
the rose. 

That fall like mother’s tender pray’rs when day 
comes to a close; 

And sometimes, in the sleepiest tones, the 
little artist then 

Paints wondrous dreams of gnome and fay in 
moonlight dappled glen 

Where fairy people romp and play till day- 
light comes again. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE GOOD FAIRIES 

^^HEN the children all are dreaming. 
And the grown-ups are indoor, 
’Cross the fields there come a-streaming 
Fairy workmen by the score — 

More than we could count, I’m sure. 


No use staying up to see them, 

Tho’ the night be fair and bright; 

They’re so small you could not see them, 
Tho’ you had the strongest sight. 

By the noon-day’s piercing light. 


But at dawning you’ll find traces 
Of their magic everywhere. 

Fields all gay with dainty laces. 

Ferns which show like jewelled hair, 
Flow’rs that pearls of dew-drops wear. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE HAPPY ESKIMO 

^HE happy little Eskimo, 

He rides upon a sled; 

His dogs outstrip the winds that blow 
Across the gleaming ice and snow, 
Beneath the Northern Lights that show 
Like silver overhead. 


My sled is idle in the hall; 

The ground is bare of snow; 

The night comes early in the Fall, 
And when I hear my mother call, 

I have to say good-night to all. 

And to my bedroom go. 

Jack Frost is with him all the year. 
And makes him lots of snow. 

And icy hillsides smooth and clear. 

To coast and slide on without fear — 
Oh, how I wish Jack Frost were here. 
And me an Eskimo ! 


100 


Frederic Manky 


SING A SONG OP WORKSHOPS 

gING a song of workshops! 

Busy men and things; 
Blacksmiths at the forges 
Where the anvil rings. 

Ploughmen in the meadows, 
Furrowing the soil; 

Nature and her showers 
Blessing all their toil. 

Tailors on their benches; 
Students in their rooms; 

Children at their lessons; 
Weavers at their looms. 

Sing a song of workshops! 

Busy men and boys; — 

C!r»v^+-rT ISJ/^-n+Vklo nrl 





Frederic Manley 


LITTLE PILGRIMS 

^Y^HEN the farms with fruits and clover 
Evhywhere are scented sweet, 

Little ships come saihng over 
Field and wood and village street, — 
Silken ships, a countless fleet. 

Little ships with little treasmes 
Underneath their shining sails. 

Bound for places bare of pleasures. 

Borne on breezes, tossed by gales. 

Sailing on to flowTless dales. 

Each a httle pilgrim bearing 
For the flowers, ev^ry one. 

Send their seedling children faring. 

Just as soon as they are grown. 

Into countries of their own. 


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Frederic Manley 


Flow^rless dales and barren places, 

Where the httle pilgrims grow, 

Soon are filled with many graces; 

Woods where bands of songsters go. 
Flowers whose sweets the wild bees know. 


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Frederic Manley 


WINTER’S MUSIC 

QLD Winter’s a musician, 

His music’s bold and shrill; 
He pipes across the moorland, 
He sings on every hill. 

He carols down the chimney; 
He chants in forest dim, 

And whatsoe’er he breathes on 
Grows musical for him. 

He makes a drum of windows, 
A flute of every tree; 

An organ of the woodland. 

And harps of ships at sea. 


104 


Frederic Manley 


WIND OF EVENING 

^IND of evening, where are you going, 
Winds a-breathing sweetly and low?^^ 
Over the nest of birds in the hollows; 

Over chimneys, soothing wee swallows; 

O’er the land of slumber we go. 


'^Wind of evening, whence are you blowing. 
Winds a-breathing softly as pray’r?” 

From drowsy red flow’rs of dim twilight 
meadows. 

From gray lands where Sleep, from the shadows, 
Sends us murmuring ev’rywhere. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE SQUIRREL 

^ COAT of fur all silver gray, 

A store of nuts so mellow; 

The dappled woodlands for my play, 
And when I’m tired at close of day, 

The maple’s cozy hollow. 

The Springtime brings me lovely flow’rs. 
The leaves of Summer shade me; 

Thro’ days of blue and golden hours 
I hear sweet music poured in show’rs 
From all the trees about me. 

Was ever life so filled with good. 

Or days so fair and rosy? 

Was ever such delicious food 
As Autumn nuts, or any wood 
So beautiful and cozy? 


106 


Frederic Manley 


THE BODY-GUARD 

^HEN the streets are growing dim, 
To my camp I go; 

There my soldiers, bright and trim. 
Wait me in a row. 

Four large cannon guard the door. 
Cavalry the bed; 

Infantry upon the floor 
Watch till night is sped. 


Ever wakeful, brave, and wise, 
Heroes ev’ry one. 

All the day they guard my toys, 
Till my school is done. 


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Frederic Manley 


ON A SNOWY DAY 

J^ALLING, falling 

Fast the snowflakes fall 
On the house-tops, on the seas, 
On the ponds and all the trees, 
Whirling, whirling 
Round the steeple tall. 


Squirrels peeping 
From the hollow trees. 

Sable coated, safe from harm, 
Feel the snugger for the storm 
Sweeping, sweeping 
Over lonesome leas. 


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Frederic Manley 


Firelight playing 
Through the cosy room, 

Makes our books and toys and things 
Dearer when the cold wind sings, 
Straying, straying 
Out there in the gloom. 

Thoughts of wandTing 
Through the wind and snows 
Makes our bed so nice and warm 
When the chilly, sad-voiced storm, 
Moaning, moaning 
Past the chinmey goes. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE HURDY-GURDY MAN 

OOT in the sunshine, free as the breezes, 
Playing sweet music wherever he goes; 
Making his monkey act, when he pleases. 

All the fine tricks that the funny chap knows. 

Gay as a gipsy, everywhere straying. 

Welcome as Christmas in village and town; 
Loved for his monkey, loved for his playing, 
Getting more pennies than we’ll ever own. 


When school is over. I’ll travel yonder, 

’Way in the land where the trick monkeys play; 
Then thro’ the world with music I’ll wander. 
Watching my monkey do tricks ev’ry day. 


no 


Frederic Manley 


THE ELEPHANT 

^HE elephant’s a traveler from far across the 
seas; 

He travels round with circuses and big me- 
nageries, 

And so he has a roomy trunk to take wher- 
e’er he goes, 

He gets so many presents for the funny tricks 
he does. 


Ill 


Frederic Manley 


SONG TO VENUS 

0 STAR, that climbs the western sky 
At twilight ev^ry day, 

When dollie goes to sleep and I 
Must put my toys away. 


IVe heard your skies are always blue 
And each day lasts a year — 

Oh, how I wish I lived on you 
Instead of living here. 


112 


Frederic Manley 


JOYFUL DAYS 

'^HEN the Winter’s over, and winds of Sum- 
mer blow; 

In the sunlight glancing, 

The meadow folk are dancing. 

And golden-headed maids are nodding in a row. 

Sturdy little ladies are blushing red and white, 
While in woodland places 
Are tender azure faces 

That see the trees above a-twinkling with 
delight. 

Laughing waters, dancing along the mountain 
ways. 

Everywhere are saying, 

‘'The time is come for playing, 

O little people all, enjoy the holidays.” 


113 


Frederic Manley 


TOPSY-TURVY 

J^CROSS the purpling hilltops and beyond the 
sunset skies 

The little Chinese children are just about to 
rise." 

While here my mama tucks me in and kisses 
me good-night, 

Their almond eyes are opening wide in morn- 
ing^s golden light. 

The world is topsy-turvy, and those funny 
children go 

With fields and hills above them and the 
heavens down below. 

I^m sure they^d all fall off the earth, but then, 
as you can see. 

Their silken pig-tails hold them up like monkeys 
on a tree. 


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Frederic Manley 


A DREAM 

^ DREAM^S a very funny thing; 

He hides beneath the bed, 

And just as soon as we^re asleep^ 

He steals into our head. 

He has a magic picture lamp, 

He hghts up all our brain. 

And many things weVe quite forgot 
He shows to us again. 

And other things not quite so good 
He shows us when we he 
On Christmas night when we have had 
Too much of Christmas pie. 


115 


Frederic Manley 


THE WOODPECKER 

ffHERE’ S someone tapping on the maple tree, 
Tap, tipy-tap, tap, tap; 

But there^s no one about that I can see. 

Save a lark who is singing a song of glee 
On a sunlit bough, and it isnT he 
Who is tapping away so steadily, 

Tap, tipy-tap, tap, tap. 

There^s someone coming down the maple tree. 
Tap, tipy-tap, tap, tap; 

And he’s hopping about so busily. 

In a cap quite as red as a barberry. 

And a coat as green as a Summer lea. 

And he’s singing a laughing melody. 

Tap, tipy-tap, tap, tap. 


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Frederic Manley 


There^s someone going up the maple tree, 
Tap, tipy-tap, tap, tap; 

He^s as gay as a prince or a lord, but he 
HasnT time to go round showing off, you see. 
For he stays in the woods working lovingly 
At a snug little home for his family. 

Tap, tipy-tap, tap, tap. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE YOUNG JASONS 

J^AIR winds blowing; 

It’s time that we were going 
On our vessel stout and fleet ; 
Hoist the flag and loose the sheet! 

Tom’s commander, 

Across the pond he sends her 
Toward the treasure land that lies 
Out of sight of mother’s eyes. 

Heroes dashing, 

Thro’ the surf we’re splashing, 
Scaring all the geese and ducks 
By the fierceness of our looks. 


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Frederic Manley 


Sailors fearless, 

We search a treasure peerless, 
Sister^s lamb among the trees. 

For it bears the golden fleece. 

Home returning. 

With hero’s courage burning — 
Pull the old barn-door ashore. 

Soon we’ll walk its deck once more. 


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Frederic Manley 


A FRIEND IN NEED 

0NCE upon a time 
In a Summer wood, 

Busy bands of ants were working, 
Storing winter food. 

One wee baby ant 
Stole away to play, 

Tho’ her wiser little sisters 
Cautioned her to stay. 

Thro^ the woods of grass 
By the flowery coast, 

^Round wee lakes of dew she wandered 
Until she was lost. 

One by one the birds 
Hushed their cheery songs. 

Sunbeams danced away and shadows 
Came in purple throngs. 


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Just as darkness made 
All the woodlands drear, 

Thro^ the trees a golden lantern 
Twinkled bright and clear. 

Twas a fire-fly bright, 

Like a star he shone; 

In the grass he saw the wandTer 
Crying all alone. 

^^Come, dear baby ant, 

I will go before; 

Light the darkness with my lantern. 
Bring you to your door. ” 

Safe he led her home 
Thro’ the grassy wood. 

^ ^ Thank you, ’ ’ said the ant ; ^ ^ hereafter 
I’ll be very good. ” 


121 


Frederic Manley 


THE HERD BOY’S SONG 

Ml home’s the birthplace of the floods; 

The mighty streams that sea-ward flow 
Thro’ distant fields and far-ofl woods; 

With me are children of the snow, 

And Fall with tender singing. 

All day I wander ’mong the rocks 

That rise near heaven, and guard my sheep. 

And find green pastures for my flocks. 

And guide the little lambs to sleep 
When night its shade is bringing. 

When vales and lowlands lie in night. 

And village folks are still in bed. 

The sun is throwing rosy light 
About me on the mountain head. 

And clear my horn is ringing. 


122 


Frederic Manley 


HAILSTONES 

ff2?, in heaven, a mighty army 
Without number, shooting down 
Such a storm of tiny bullets. 

Striking hill and field and town. 
Pit-a-pat, pit-a-pat, tap, tap, tap. 

Tap, tap, tap, pit-a-pat, tap, tap, tap. 

They assail each icy prison 
Where a flower in darkness lies. 

Walls of clay are cracked and crumbled; 
All the flowers in freedom rise. 

Pit-a-pat, etc. 

Such a good and kindly army. 

Soldiers of the lovely Spring, 

Filling all the world with gladness. 
Bringing joy to everything. 

Pit-a-pat, etc. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE DAIRY MAIDS 

J^VENING light on the pasture land, 
Twinkling, twinkling; 

Down we go with our pails in hand, 
Mary, Molly and I. 

Cowbells ringing a sleepy chime, 
Tinkhng, tinkhng; 

While we call o’er the meadow thyme, 
Mary, Molly and I. 

Sweet and warm is the milk we take 
Every morning; 

When the children begin to wake, 
Mary, Molly and I. 

Making butter’s the best of fun. 
Churning, churning; 

Oh! we’re sorry when Summer’s done, 
Mary, Molly and I. 


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Frederic Manley 


MOTHER’S PRAYER 

I^OME to mother’s lap, my dear, 
Come and rest there peacefully; 
Sleep, my baby, free from fear. 
Mother’s love is guarding thee. 

As you sleep, dear, mother prays 
That your feet, in later hours. 

May be led thro’ purest ways, 

Rich in peace and fairest flow’rs. 

When her baby comes and lays 
Tired head on mother’s breast. 
Mother prays that manhood’s days 
May be just as sweet and blest. 


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Frederic Manley 


SHEEP AND SHEPHERD 

^HE waves come out of the Far away, 

A host of waves that cry and leap 
And run together at their play 
All thro’ the blue and gusty day, 

Like flocks of happy April sheep. 

On sun-drows’d days when the world’s so still 
The held mouse is afraid to sleep, 

The grass grows all at once athrill. 

Then comes a Piper down the hill. 

And soon the sea is white with sheep! 

Like countless flocks, all wooly and gray, 

Of frisky lambs too long confined. 

They leap for joy when clear and gay 
Their playmate whistles o’er the bay, — 

The unseen shepherd of the wind. 


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Frederic Manley 


CHRISTMAS BELLS 

])ING, dong! Dong, ding! 

Silver sweet the bells all ring; 

Dong, ding! Ding, dong! 

Pealing forth their praiseful song. 

Klang, klong! Klong, kling! 

“Christmas morning^s here,^^ they sing: 
Kling, klong! Kling, klong! 

Silver voices sweet and strong. 


Klong, klong! Klang, kling! 

Let all men their praises bring: 
Sing! Sing! Kling, klang! 

As the hosts of angels sang. 

Ding, dong! Dong, ding! 

Peace on earth to everything, — 
KUng, klang! Klong, kling! 

In our hearts may Love be King. 


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Frederic Manley 


SUMMER SHOWERS 

piTTER-PATTER, pitter-patter, 
With a gentle noise and clatter, 

Like a fairy army coming 

Down the hills with drowsy humming 

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. 

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. 

To the valley drawing nearer, 

When the patient, thirsty flowers 
Long to feel the silver showers 
All about them pitter-patter. 

Pitter-patter, pitter-patter. 

Now the rain-drops round us clatter; 
Now the earth no joy is lacking. 

Frogs are croaking, ducklings quacking. 
In the welcome pitter-patter. 


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Frederic Manley 


Pitter-patter, pitter-patter — 
Was there ever king or leader 
Led an army of such powers 
As these gentle Summer showers, 
Blessing with their pitter-patter! 


129 


Frederic Manley 


WHEN MOTHER KISSES ME 
GOOD-NIGHT 

^Y^HEN mother kisses me good-night 
And takes away the candlelight, 
The dark that hides outside I guess 
Fills all the room with emptiness. 

But safely tucked away in bed, 

Beneath the clothes I put my head. 
And then I^m safe as I can be 
And not a thing can trouble me. 

Sometimes I play my bed^s a den. 
While hid from cold and traps and men 
A baby bear lies snug and warm, 

While outside all is night and storm. 

And sometimes it^s a boat that Hes 
At anchor under foreign skies. 

Within a coral sheltered cove 
Near some old pirate’s treasure trove. 


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Frederic Manley 


Beyond the reef the waves are wild, 

The wind screams like a frightened child, 
While I lie in my cabin snug 
As pussy on the kitchen rug. 

And sometimes it^s a shanty where ■ 
Outside the panther and the bear 
Go prowling thro^ the rainy night, 

While inside all is fire and light. 

And often it^s a boat that flies. 

While far below, with cruel eyes, 

A dragon guards a witches door 
And giants prowl along the shore. 

There’s not a thing can catch my boat — 
And Oh! it’s great to soar and float, 

And fly and drift and sink away 
Until my eyes are filled with day! 


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Frederic Manley 


A SPRING SONG 

^OW happiness is in the air, 
And joy is in the blood, 
And gladness rises everywhere 
From valley and from wood. 


The swallows come from distant lands 
Across the dying snow; 

The bees among the willow-wands 
With droning music go. 


Now spring is in the birdling^s throats. 
And from the fields and trees 
There gushes forth a stream of notes 
In joyous melodies. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE LEAF 

fjEE lonesomest thing in the whole wide 
world 

Is the little leaf that is tossed and whirled 
Down the long dark street in the shivery storm. 


I listen and hear the wind^s wild shout, 
I think how the leaf is blown about, 
And I wish it was snug and warm. 

I wonder if little leaves can be 
Afraid of the lonesome dark like me. 
And long for the kindly snow. 


For the little leaf when the snow falls down 
Lies safe from the winds that drive it roun^ 
No matter how hard they blow. 


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Frederic Manley 


WISHES 

0H, how I wish I were a bee 
And not just poor little me! 

I^d wander over all the lands, 

Across the farms and fields and rocks, 
In velvet frocks with golden bands, 
And over ponds and hollyhocks. 

A happy buzzer, just as free 
As any one could wish to be, 

I^d swing on breezes far above 
The garden swing that baby rocks, — 
With butterflies to play and rove 
And every flower a candy box! 

I cannot leave a doll or toy 
Around, because I know a boy 
That^s sure to make my dolly sick. 

To scratch her face or tear her clothes. 
Or some such other careless trick 
That careless little brother knows. 


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Frederic Manley 


And so a girl can never be 
One half so happy as a bee — 

For when the bees stay in their hives 
The careful flowers, in summer^s rain, 
Fold in their sweets, like little wives. 
Until the bees come ^round again. 


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Frederic Manley 


MY GIRLS 

OF all the pretty little girls 
I^m sure there^s none can be 
So pretty as my little girls, 

Nor quite as mannerly; 

Their eyes are blue as ponds in June, 
Their hair like seaside sands. 

And they have faces like the moon. 
And dainty little hands. 

They never speak when others talk. 
They never soil a gown. 

And when I take them for a walk 
They act just hke they’re grown. 

I’m sure they study every day. 

They look so very wise. 

And have a very earnest way 
Of staring with their eyes. 


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Frederic Manley 


I^m sure my girls are very good, 

For mama once did say 

She wished my little brother would 

Be like them just a day — 

For they’re so good, you see, they’d lie 
In bed a year or two 
And never move or open eye 
Unless I told them to. 


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Frederic Manley 


DISCIPLINE 

^HE rain is falling on the flowers, 

It seems to beat their petals down; 
And on the fields thro’ dreary hours 
The leaden-fronted heavens frown. 

But every drop’s a kiss, my dear. 
Replete with joy and kindliness. 

And every frown the heavens wear 
Hides more of love than you may guess. 


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Frederic Manley 


MOLLY MOO 

j^WEET new grass and juicy clover, 
Fresh wide fields to saunter over, 
Cooling brooks that murmur thro’. 
Meadow-sweet and iris blue; 
Moo-moo, Molly Moo, 

That’s the world of Molly Moo, 
Molly, Molly Moo. 


139 


Frederic Manley 


THE MOON 


^HEN the moon grows smiley, round and 
fat, 

And fades the stars, I don’t like that; 

It’s when she’s like a slender maid, 

A little white-gown’d girl who’s strayed 
Away and away from her home in the west, 
It’s then that I love the dear moon best. 


140 


Frederic Manley 


MEADOW-SWEET 


fjHE meadow-sweet is dancing, 
The grass is dancing too; 

O Children, let us dance with them 
While skies are clear and blue. 


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Frederic Manley 


THE BOB-SLED 


j^AST as the shade of a wind-driven cloud 
We flash down the hillside, a rosy-cheek’d 
crowd; 

The white earth leaps backward, the woods reel 
and dance. 

And whizz! we have skimmed thro^ a mile in 
a glance! 


Oh! the Summer-time’s pleasant, but give me 
instead 

The white hills of Winter with boys on a sled; 

With boys on a ^^bob,” and their laughter and 
fun. 

And the wood-flre at home when our sledding 
is done! 


142 


Frederic Manley 


APRIL 

^PRIL^S just a little child 
Very badly spoiled; 

Nearly every day she cries 
Till her pretty gowns are soiled; 
And tho^ nature sometimes dries 
All her tears of pearly rain, 
Coaxing her to laugh and smile, 
Aprihs sunny just a while. 

Then the tears come to her eyes, 
And she cries and cries again. 

Maybe, tho’, that April cries 
Just for happiness. 

For a little girl whose eyes 
Find each day a brand-new dress 
Green and blue as sunny skies. 
Trimmed with violet and white, 
Figured with young apple buds 
And the flowers of waking woods, 
Must be taken by surprise 
And just weeps from pure delight. 
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Frederic Manley 


TING-A-LING-A-LING 

]^ING-A-LING-A-LING, 
The bells are ringing, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

A silver song; 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

Like swallows winging, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

We glide along. 

Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

Past meadows lying, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

Like moonlit pearls; 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

The sleigh is flying, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

With happy boys and girls. 


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Frederic Manley 


Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

When folks are sleeping, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

For girls and boys, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

A sleigh is sweeping, 
Ting-a-ling-a-ling, 

With Christmas joys. 


145 


Frederic Manley 


THE KITE 


'^HAT wondrous sights a kite must see 
As it goes sailing thro’ the sky! 

It sometimes dances merrily 
And starts as if it would be free 
To visit some fair land which lies 
Beyond the sight of children’s eyes. 


And often on a Summer’s day, 

When on the earth the winds are still, 
As babes that fall asleep at play 
It flutters far above the hill, 

A wingless bird, a paper sprite. 

And darts and dances with dehght. 

I wish my kite could tell me tales 
About the wonders that it sees. 

Of ocean with its snowy sails. 

Of towns beyond the pasture trees. 
With busy men and shops and toys, 
And circuses and other joys. 


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